Methods and systems [are disclosed] for controlling wind turbines having a tower, a nacelle, and a rotor with a blade and hub. The wind turbine may further include a yaw drive system for rotating the nacelle relative to the tower about a substantially vertical axis, and/or a pitch drive system for rotating the blade of the rotor around a longitudinal axis of the blade. During high wind speeds when the wind turbine may be in a stand-still and non-power-producing situation, the yaw drive system may continuously or periodically rotate the nacelle to vary a direction of the rotor with respect to the wind. Further, the pitch drive system may continuously or periodically rotate the blade to vary a direction of the blade with respect to the wind. In this manner, the wind turbine may be safely controlled during high winds.